Young player Marc Owen Endler dreams of Gran Canaria
The ATP Challenger Tour wants to open in Gran Canaria in a month. Participation there would be "a dream" for the young German player Marc Owen Endler .
by Florian Heer
last edit: Jan 24, 2021, 05:17 pm
Mid-January. Sunday afternoon. The sun is shining. The thermometer shows a pleasant 20 degrees. The constant but gentle trade wind carries only a few thin clouds through the otherwise light blue sky. On the extensive grounds of the El Cortijo Club de Campo, tennis players face each other on the numerous clay courts. A couple of golfers watch the action on the courts en-passant from the high-altitude clubhouse. Your path will lead you to the next tee on the green next door.
If the players off the pitch and the spectators did not observe the rules of distance or did not wear masks, one could almost forget that we are still in the middle of a pandemic. The general hygiene regulations also apply here in Gran Canaria. The number of cases of Covid 19 infections is increasing, but is comparatively low. There are excellent conditions for playing tennis.
ATP Challenger tour back in Gran Canaria
In just over a month, the professionals of the traveling circus should also be able to enjoy this ambience. Organized by the experienced Italian organizer MEF tennis events - which gave the starting shot for the resumption of professional tennis after the forced Corona break in August last year with the Challenger in Todi - there are two consecutive ATP Challenger tournaments in the Tennis Academy of the El Cortijo Club de Campo planned.
It is one of the most renowned tennis facilities on the third largest island in the archipelago. The plant is located approx. 15 kilometers south of the capital Las Palmas in Telde, the second largest city in Gran Canaria. The international airport can be reached by car in just 10 minutes. The tour made a guest appearance here in 2006 and 2008. Marc Lopez and Teymuraz Gabashvili were the names of the winners at the time.
Young talent Marc Owen Endler is hoping for Challenger participation
“It would be a dream to be part of the Challenger this year,” says Mark Owen Endler. The 18-year-old has just made it to the finals at the national tournament "Islacao" - named after the main sponsor, a Canarian hot chocolate drink. Endler, born on the neighboring island of Tenerife, competes for Germany.
“My mother is from the United States and my father is German. My grandparents still live in Dresden, ”explains Endler about his international background. Although he understands the German language very well, he prefers to speak Spanish or English. "I took part in various junior tournaments in Germany and saw some cities as a result."
However, Endler was able to record his first international success outside of Europe. Two years ago he won the ITF Junior Championships in Bahrain. “It was a great experience, but also really hot on site in Manama. We were around 40 degrees almost every day and it was pretty tough to play tennis. Everything was well organized, however, and I was able to win the tournament in singles and doubles. "
Start at the Rafa Nadal Academy
In the junior division, Endler made it into the top ten U-18 players in Spain and was listed in the top 500 in the world. Now it's time to make the transition to the professionals. The teenager was also recently able to gain his first experience at senior level. “I've just come from the ITF World Tennis Tournament at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca. Unfortunately, I didn't do very well there, but I was able to win a round in doubles alongside David Marrero. ”A radiance can be seen under his face mask. Being able to stand next to the former ATP Finals double champion was obviously a special event for Endler.
“I was pretty nervous, but it felt fantastic on the pitch. We played together for the first time. He himself comes from Gran Canaria and could become the tournament director for the upcoming Challenger here. Provided he doesn't play along himself, ”laughs Endler, who hasn't given up hope of a wildcard in doubles.
From Tenerife to the big, wide world
In the individual he sees rather bad chances for himself. “The wild cards will likely go to players from the club here. I train at the Tenerife Tennis Academy, where I also go to school. My goal is to become a tennis professional. However, I am thinking of going to the United States next year to study and play college tennis. "
Initial contacts with a college in South Carolina have already been made. A path that German cracks like Yannick Hanfmann and Dominik Koepfer have already taken to finally establish themselves on the ATP tour. “Maybe I can do that too,” says Endler positively. Participation in the Challenger in Gran Canaria could at least represent another step in the right direction.